McDonald’s has announced they’re giving away free Double Cheeseburgers to mark National Cheeseburger Day this September 18.
However, there are a few conditions: You’ll be required to make a purchase of at least $1, and there’s only one free Double Cheeseburger per person.
Additionally, the offer is available only at participating locations, and the purchase must be made through the McDonald’s app.
Delivery orders are excluded from the offer.
In a statement to People, the fast food chain said: “Since burgers are kind of our thing, we’d love for fans to come in and grab their favorite McDonald’s drink, snack or meal and add a Double Cheeseburger to celebrate the holiday with us!”
It was reported earlier this week that McDonald’s is one of several fast food chains that are reprioritizing human workers.
Over the last decade, they have largely been focused on automation.
McDonald’s rolled out in-store kiosks in 2016 for customers to order at instead of waiting in line for an employee at the counter. Wendy’s debuted a human-free AI drive-thru system – “FreshAi” – in 2023.
But the tide appears to be turning back to human interaction, according to The Wall Street Journal report this week.
“[Customers] want a friendly face,” Burger King President Tom Curtis told the Journal. “We have to lean in to that because that’s evaporating in the fast food space.”
While fast-food outlets have been quick to incorporate digital kiosks and AI in drive-thru ordering, for example, customers say they would rather deal with another human being.
Some 80 percent of diners prefer ordering from a human over an AI agent, Fortune reported in July.
Chicago-based hot-dog chain Portillo’s is one business that changed its operations to improve staff-to-customer interactions.
It took a Chick-fil-A approach to its drive-thru – meaning sending staff out to take orders instead of the typical menu and speaker -according to a 2024 article from fast-food industry publication QSR Magazine.
Brands including McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks and Wendy’s are preparing new initiatives emphasizing staff-to-customer interactions, according to reports.
Changes range from “energetic greetings” to making sure counter staff are available for complaints and to double-check order accuracy, the Journal said.
The move toward a more human restaurant experience elevates key qualities that AI can’t offer, including accountability, judgment and observation, an August commentary from industry newsletter The Prep said.
“As restaurants race to adopt AI, operators should be careful about automating the very thing diners are paying for: hospitality,” the newsletter said.
“Technology can improve prep, reduce waste and eliminate administrative work, but removing human interaction from the guest experience risks stripping away the product itself: connection.”
